The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-15
Baby Monkeys.

Balloons are almost the ugliest OF the
monkeys to look at. They have dog
shaped heads, with eyes deep-set and
close together, and their faces have
ridges and swellings and queer colors,
so that they are really hideous to our
notions. But, in spite OF their looks,
they are most interesting animals be-
cause they are so fond of each other,
and so amiable and full of fun In baby
hood. Dreadful-looking old fellows,
that look as if they could easily eat up
a baby, are extremely fond of the little
ones. and as tender and careful as any
human nurse.
Some droll stories are told OF baboon
babies in menageries. In one place
there we're two mothers with infants,
and the others of the tribe, when al
lowed to go in the cage occupied as
nursery, gathered about the mothers,
put their arms fondly around them,
and begged by their actions 10 hold the
baby a little. The mothers allowed
them to do so, and the little ones were
passed around among the visitors, each
one holding a baby few minutes care
fully, and then passing it on. At last,
after every one had taken the child, 1t
was given back to its mamma. Such
performance among animals is very ex-
traordinary, you know.
Another one that was in menagerie
in Paris was in cage alone with its
mamma, and when about eight days
old papa was allowed to go in, to make
call. He embraced mamma and the
baby, and then sat down by her and
took the little one in his arms. Pretty
soon the rest of the baboon family were
introduced to the interesting cage, to
call on the infant. Zach one wanted TO
take it, of course, but this mother was
not so obliging, or so trusting perhaps.
She would not let any one touch it,
and if urged she gave the teaser slap.
They all sat around her and moved
their lips as though talking.
The baboon baby out of a menagerie
has probably better time. He sleeps
mothers back, and eats berries and
fruit and roots, besides insects. Nothing
is funnier than to see a party of these
wild youngsters at play. They are
specially fond of sliding down hill
(Which shows they know what is sport
doesn't it, boys?) They select a
nice, grassy place, and down they go,
| sliding and rolling over and over like
great balls of fur, chattering and carry
ing on like q party OF children. They
run about on all tours on the ground.
and if in hurry they gallop, but they
are not often seen on trees.
The little baboon is a Jolly fellow,
always full of pranks and Jokes, such
as slylv pulling the tail of some digni-
fed old fellow. But this performance
turns out not so funny if he gets
caught, for pinch or bite is the pay
he gets. Like other little folk, the
baboon baby sometimes loses his tenn
per, and the ways he takes to show his
anger and to threaten the enemy are
very strange. He opens his mouth
wide as if yawning or he rounds his
fist on the ground as YOU have seen o
naughty child do.
Is they grow old, like many other
animals, and especially monkeys, they
grow more savage and cross, and OF
course are not so interesting. They 60
III large parties together, and often
visit the crops of the farmer. When they
do this they keep watchers on the look
out, and, though usually quite noisy
fellows, they are as quiet as any other
thieves who know they are taking what
does not belong to them. If an I'M
lucky baby chances to make a noise he
gets smart slap, and, naturally he
soon learns to keep still when on an
excursion of that sort. This fellow
lives in africa, and his name is
Cynocephalus Hamadryas.- Christian
Union.